Sunday, 27th July, 2014
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard believes the Reds are in a better place this summer than last summer and has backed them to once again challenge for the Premier League title.
Gerrard and company mounted a surprising title challenge last term, taking their push for the crown to the final day of the season, but ultimately losing out to Manchester City.
This summer they have lost the Premier League Golden Boot winner, Luis Suarez, but Gerrard still feels Liverpool will go into the new season better equipped and classed as genuine title challengers.
"I believe we are in a much better place now than we were this time last year", he told LFC TV.
"The reason being because we've got the taste, the know-how and the experience of being in a title race.
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"If we can use the hurt of falling short last season in our favour then hopefully we can go one better.
"I think this is the first time in a long time that I can be confident of telling people that we are the real deal and are real title contenders before a ball has been kicked."
Suarez scored 31 Premier League goals for Liverpool last term, along with winning the PFA Players' Player of the Year award and the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year award.
Liverpool must find a way to replace the Uruguayan's efforts in 2014/15.
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